It is game day for the Allen Americans as they try to put 2018 behind them and start anew in 2019. The Americans made the playoffs last season primarily because they played well at the start of the season in calendar year 2017. On January 1, 2018 Allen's record was 18-9-4-1. Once 2018 rolled around things started to go down hill. The rest of the season the Americans record was 17-20-2-1 but they still made the playoffs. The playoffs turned out to be a disaster as Allen was eliminated in the first round in historic fashion. For just the second time in the 30 year history of the ECHL a team (Allen) took a 3-0 series lead and then lost the series.
- When you thought 2018 couldn't get any worse after the playoff debacle the 2018-19 season rolled around and brought calendar year 2018 to a close with a record of 8-26-0-2. So to recap the Americans calendar year 2018 results the regular season record was 25-46-4-3 with an epic fail in the playoffs thrown in for good measure.
- With 2018 now in the rear view mirror the Allen Americans have a chance to start the New Year with a victory as they take on the Kansas City Mavericks at the Allen Event Center (AEC) tonight (7:05 pm). It won't be an easy task for the Americans as they are 0-6 against the Mavericks this season and have been outscored 29-13.
- To make matters worse Allen coach Steve Martinson will not be behind the bench as he will be serving the second game of his two game suspension. Assistant coach Jason Deitsch will take over behind the bench with help from Casey Pierro-Zabotel and Thomas Frazee.
- Defenseman Josh Atkinson could return to the lineup tonight for the first time since November 24. With Garrett Clarke out with an injury and Alex Breton on loan to the AHL it would be a big boost if Atkinson can get back in the lineup.
- Kansas City is third in the Mountain Division in winning percentage (.600) but have struggled recently. Their record over the last nine games is 3-6-0-0. In their last game on Monday they beat Wichita at home 5-4 in overtime.
- Kansas City has outscored Allen 29-13 and outshot the Americans 209-173 in their six head to head games this season. The special team stats really tell the story of the Mavericks dominance over the Americans. Allen has had 28 power play opportunities in the six games against Kansas City and has converted on just two for a power play percentage of 7.1%. The Mavericks have converted on 11 of 37 power play opportunities against Allen for a power play percentage of 29.7%. Kansas City scored at least one power play goal in all six games and in four of the six the Mavericks had multiple power play goals.
- Allen leads the ECHL in minor penalties (210) and the number of times they have been on the penalty kill (186). This compares to Kansas City with 154 minor penalties and 122 times on the penalty kill. It will be imperative if Allen is to win tonight they stay out of the penalty box.
- If you are attending the game tonight or watching on ECHL-TV look for how many times Allen dumps the puck. I know in talking to the coaches on Monday after the game they will emphasize for the umpteenth time that neutral ice turnovers have to be eliminated. If there is no play dump the puck behind the defense and win puck battles.
- The one stat that favors the Americans is that Kansas City has struggled on the road this season. The Mavericks have the best home record in the ECHL at 12-1-0-0. However, their road record is one of the worst in the league at 5-10-1-1. Not to be forgotten however, is Allen has the worst home record in the ECHL at 3-11-0-0.
- Record when scoring first is another stat worthy of note. Allen is 5-4-0-1. Kansas City has been close to unbeatable when scoring first with a record of 11-1-1-0.
- Kansas City is ranked #9 in the ECHL in average goals scored per game at 3.40, Allen is ranked #25 at 2.44 goals per game. There is a similar disparity in average goals allowed with Kansas City ranked #12 (3.10) and Allen ranked #27 (3.92).
- If you are looking for who might be the hero for Allen tonight the leading goal scorers in the six previous games against the Mavericks were Zach Pochiro and Spencer Asuchak with three goals each. The leading scorers for Kansas City have been #22 David Dziurzynski with five goals and #12 Rocco Carzo with four goals and 10 points.
- If you need to leave the game early tonight and either team has the lead after the second period the outcome is almost certain. With a second period lead Allen and Kansas City have a combined record of 18-0-0-1.
- Officials scheduled for the game tonight are referee Sean Fernandez (#21) and linesmen Aaron Schacht (#31) and Jordan Solomon (#78).
OTHER COMMENTS
- Here is the ECHL Today which previews the four games on tap in the ECHL tonight. https://www.echl.com/en/news/2019/1/echl-today-jan-2
- Wichita is at Utah tonight and if they can beat the Grizzlies in regulation time they will vault from fourth place to second place in the Mountain Division. It would be quite an accomplishment for the Thunder who as late as November 24th were battling Allen for last place in the division.
- It has been a tough season thus far for Allen fans so hope 2019 brings a turnaround. On a lighter note try not to laugh at these hockey fails.
DID YOU KNOW: The Allen Americans have always had at least one player play in every game during the season. In all but two seasons there has been more than one "Ironman." At the halfway point this season Spencer Asuchak is the only player still eligible for Ironman status as he is the only player that has played in all 36 games. Here is the list of Ironmen in Allen Americans franchise history.
2018-19 - Spencer Asuchak (after 36 of 72 games)
2017-18 - Joel Chouinard, Casey Pierro-Zabotel
2016-17 - Chad Costello, Joel Chouinard
2015-16 - Chad Costello
2014-15 - Chad Costello, Aaron Gens, Jamie Schaafsma
2013-14 - Spencer Asuchak, Daniel Tetrault, Mike Berube
2012-13 - Jamie Schaafsma, Jason Deitsch
2011-12 - Jason Deitsch
2010-11 - Colton Yellow Horn, David Strathman
2009-10 - Bruce Graham, Christian Gaudet
Happy New Year, BARRY. Sorry bout your hunting trip. Sounds like the weather did not cooperate.
ReplyDeleteHere's another way to look at Martinson's absence: He has said on numerous occasions that he can't coach this team into winning. He's told them what they need to do, they know what they need to do, and at some point they just have to (in the immortal words of Master Yoda) "do or do not; there is no 'try'."
ReplyDeleteIf that's true, then NOW is a perfect opportunity for this group of players to step up and show that they don't need Martinson behind the bench yelling at them – that they are professionals who know what needs to be done and then go out and do the work.
...and then they did just that!
ReplyDelete